Haye & Chisora: Heavyweight's Most Notorious Rebels!

David Haye and Dereck Chisora were the main rivals in the heavyweight division when the Klitschko brothers were champions. Throughout Vitali and Wladimir's careers, no other fighters acted like these two. Their rivalry was the biggest display of hate at the time.

We share stories about these controversial British fighters who, in the early 2010s, kept the heavyweight division exciting and prevented it from becoming too predictable because of the Ukrainian champions' strategies.

David Haye's Provocative T-Shirt and Challenge to the Klitschkos

David Haye, a British boxer who unified several titles in 2008 in the cruiserweight division, boldly moved up to heavyweight with one main goal: to fight the Klitschko brothers. Haye was ready to take on either brother, targeting both simultaneously.

Besides his sharp tongue, which spared no harsh words for the Ukrainian champions, Haye's key tactic in promoting a potential showdown was a controversial T-shirt featuring an image of the decapitated Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko.

The Klitschkos' Breaking Point and the Awaited Showdown

The audacity of David Haye, featuring a controversial T-shirt at press conferences, was the final provocation for the Klitschko brothers. The younger brother, Wladimir, stepped up to defend the family's honor against the outspoken Briton. Their initial fight was scheduled for June 20, 2009, but Haye pulled out, citing an injury. During the buildup, which included several press conferences, Haye consistently wore the provocative T-shirt and engaged in intense trash-talking.

During this time, Wladimir Klitschko won another title—The Ring—while Haye secured a fight against WBA belt holder Nikolay Valuev, whom he defeated by a unanimous decision. With all the major belts except the British title held by the Klitschkos, the stakes for their fight became even higher.

The much-anticipated match between Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye finally occurred on July 2, 2011, at the peak of public interest. The pre-fight event was a grand spectacle featuring many legendary boxers. However, while dynamic and mainly fought at long range with few clinches, the bout itself did not meet the explosive expectations. Wladimir controlled the pace, and Haye, attempting to be agile, often dodged but failed to land effective counterattacks. Although Haye frequently appealed to the referee, leading to a warning for Klitschko at one point, his theatrical falls also resulted in the referee counting one as a knockdown.

Wladimir Overcomes Haye with Ease, Chisora Crosses the Line

Wladimir Klitschko had little trouble handling the brash Brit David Haye, ultimately defeating him unanimously and claiming the last championship belt for the Klitschko family. In a post-fight interview, Haye blamed a toe injury he sustained during training, which only sparked criticism against him. Three months later, on his 31st birthday, Haye announced his retirement from boxing.

Dereck Chisora took his provocations even further, physically assaulting the Klitschko brothers; he slapped Vitali and spat in Wladimir's face.

Dereck Chisora's conflict with the Klitschkos began in 2010. At 27 years old and undefeated, Chisora was set to fight Wladimir Klitschko for the world title. Still, the match was postponed and eventually canceled due to an injury to Wladimir, who instead fought David Haye—that year turned out to be one of Chisora's most disappointing.

In 2011, Chisora first lost to a very young Tyson Fury and then to Finnish prospect Robert Helenius—both by decision, with the second defeat considered controversial. Despite these setbacks, Chisora's rank rose, catching Vitali Klitschko's attention. Chisora was then offered a fight for the WBC title.

At the pre-fight weigh-in, Chisora slapped Vitali during their final stare-down. This shocking behavior escalated further when, just before their fight, Chisora spat water in Wladimir's face in the ring.

Despite these provocations, the Klitschko brothers maintained their composure. Chisora was defeated by a unanimous decision in the fight, which might have been forgettable if not for his actions before and after the event.

In both situations, the Klitschko brothers remained composed. Unfortunately for the spectacle, the audacious Brit, Dereck Chisora, managed to avoid a knockout, losing instead by a unanimous decision. The fight itself might not have been memorable for its action, but Chisora's antics before and after the event certainly left a lasting impression.

Haye and Chisora's Explosive Conflict at the Press Conference

David Haye and Dereck Chisora, both British fighters who did not reach the levels of the Klitschko brothers, found themselves embroiled in their own intense rivalry. The spark for this conflict was a press conference in Munich, which followed Chisora's fight against Vitali Klitschko. Haye attended this conference, aiming to challenge Vitali—a fight he sought previously but was passed over for Chisora.

The tension escalated during the press conference when Haye and Chisora clashed. Chisora challenged Haye to repeat disparaging comments he had made face-to-face. The confrontation quickly turned physical when Haye, holding an empty bottle in his hand, struck Chisora in the jaw.

The brawl also involved their teams, resulting in injuries, including a head cut to Haye's trainer, Adam Booth, caused by a camera tripod thrown in the melee.

The altercation didn't simmer down immediately; Chisora loudly threatened Haye with severe actions, including threats to "shoot" and "burn" him. The consequences of this incident stretched into the next day. As Chisora and his trainer, Don Charles, attempted to leave Germany, they were detained by the Munich police to investigate the threats and the brawl, particularly the severity of Chisora's threats, which might constitute a severe violation of German criminal law. After a few hours, they were released without charges. Meanwhile, Haye managed to leave Germany before he could be detained.

Following this scandal, Vitali Klitschko expressed his outrage over Chisora's actions before and after the fight. He posted an open letter on his website, denouncing Chisora's behavior and urging the boxing community, media, and fans not to tolerate such conduct. This was effectively a call for a boycott against Chisora.

In response to the widespread condemnation, Chisora issued an official apology statement. He expressed deep embarrassment and sincere regret for the disturbance, stating that he and his team were ashamed of how events unfolded. However, this episode was just the beginning of a series of major issues that Chisora would face during that time.

Haye Returns to Boxing to Settle the Score with Chisora

The infamous scuffle at the Munich press conference was the initial clash between David Haye and Dereck Chisora, setting the stage for a full-fledged showdown in the boxing ring. Motivated by their mutual disdain, Haye decided to come out of retirement to face Chisora.

"This guy has said so much about me, and what he planned to do to me. He clearly didn't learn his lesson in Munich, and this time I intend to handle him properly—without the use of tripods and bottles. Initially, I had said I would only return to the ring to fight the Klitschko brothers, but the events in Munich shifted my perspective. I wasn't considering a fight with Chisora at first, but then people on the streets started asking me when I would face him. I thought, 'Why not?'" Haye explained.

Despite both boxers' eagerness to turn their feud into a formal battle, organizing the fight proved exceptionally challenging. Haye and Chisora and their promoters encountered numerous obstacles before they could finally announce the event.

Overcoming Licensing Challenges for Haye vs. Chisora Fight

The road to the ring for David Haye and Dereck Chisora was fraught with significant hurdles, primarily due to licensing issues. Both fighters found themselves without valid boxing licenses; Chisora's had been revoked following his controversial behavior around the Vitali Klitschko fight, and Haye's had expired after he announced his retirement. The British boxing authorities were reluctant to reissue licenses to these controversial figures.

Additionally, most boxing organizations were hesitant to sanction the bout. The World Boxing Council (WBC) was particularly opposed, having already imposed sanctions on Chisora. He was fined, removed from their rankings, and barred from participating in title fights under their oversight. The World Boxing Organization (WBO) also dropped Chisora from its rankings.

However, the two boxers' promoters found a workaround by securing boxing licenses from Luxembourg. This move allowed the fight to gain the necessary sanctions from the World Boxing Association (WBA) and the WBO, which both saw financial upside in the bout and sanctioned it as a title fight for regional belts under their respective organizations. The International Boxing Federation (IBF) remained neutral, while the WBC continued disapproving of the event.

On July 14, 2012, Haye and Chisora finally faced off in the ring in front of a packed crowd at Boleyn Ground in London. Tensions were so high in the lead-up to the fight that a metal fence was erected between them at press conferences to prevent any physical altercations.

Haye vs. Chisora: A Knockout Conclusion and Unexpected Partnership

The fight between David Haye and Dereck Chisora started with a bang. Despite their noticeable size difference, the difference in speed truly stood out. Moving like a mountain, Chisora pressed forward slowly while Haye, lighter on his feet and wearing sneakers, displayed his characteristic style: hands down, exceptional lateral movement, and quick escapes.

The turning point arrived in the fifth round. Chisora's missed punches began to accumulate, leaving him vulnerable. Haye capitalized on this with a decisive flurry of punches, knocking Chisora down. Although Chisora managed to rise with only 12 seconds remaining in the round, Haye delivered another potent combination, knocking him down again. Chisora got up at the count of eight, but the referee, Luis Pabon, stopped the fight after seeing Chisora's condition. Haye won by a convincing knockout, marking the first time Chisora was decisively overpowered in such a manner.

Surprisingly, the animosity between Haye and Chisora dissolved quickly after the fight. Six years later, they announced a professional collaboration: Haye became Chisora's manager. This former rivalry turned partnership led to several significant fights for Chisora, including a notable bout against Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk. This collaboration lasted about three years, during which they managed to stage some memorable fights.